Arson suspected
in Bergen
 Police are investigating whether arson is behind the recent fires in the city. PHOTO: TOR ERIK H.MATHIESEN / SCANPIX |
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The man has been charged with setting fire to a wooden shed. "We link this case to four other fires in the same neighbourhood on Sunday," says police spokesman Asbjørn Andersen to news bureau NTB.
Police and fire fighters were looking for an arsonist, after four minor fires had occurred in the course of a few hours. Investigators were working at the scene of one fire, when a fire started next door.
"The man was seen nearby shortly afterwards and as a result of observation made at the scene, he was arrested," says Andersen.
Police are now confident that the fires were started. All the fires occurred on Sunday in the afternoon and evening, and started in basements. All were quickly extinguished. There were no injuries.
The suspect will be interviewed on Monday. Police are still not linking this incident to the other fires which have taken place in Bergen the last week.
A fire on Friday destroyed another old wooden storehouse which was listed for conservation.
Last week four other classic wooden buildings by the old docks burned. Rumours of arson have yet to be confirmed as Police have not yet been able to carry out technical investigations at the scene. Interviews with witnesses are still going on.
Bergen's buildings are mostly built of wood. The wooden ‘sjøbod’ storehouses on the waterfront, give the city its unique character and illustrate Bergen's heritage as a major trading centre with roots going back several hundred years.
Sven Goll/NTB
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